Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1887-03-08
aon the whole. think I'd Ike 2

a
simple things are the best. returned
| NV somewhat discouraged pupil, as
| for the fifth time he picked out SONS
| unruIv stitches that plainly tod MN
would spoil the looks OF the whoie
pillow. !.
Wal In due course OF time it was
finished. that is, the plain serge cover
was firmly stitched together, and then
how Ionped to embroider upon IL
some lovely sentiment about themur..
muring pines and the balmy hr trees
But of course that was out OF Ine
question. Jack had evidently no idea
OF doing anything luther himself IN
the way OF needle work, yet was as
anxious as ever to have the whole
pillow made by his own hands. On
the whole, he was very patient ana
persevering pupil for an active young
fellow devoted to tennis and base ball,
and | used to wonder what tender
loving thoughts he was working INTO
those great, clumsy seams when saw
that peculiar far-off look come into
his beautiful brown eyes.
There is only one thing that trouo'
led me. In spite OF the persistency
with which Jack had worked day ait
err day upon the pillow, and in spite
of the numerous letters that came TO
him addressed in delicate feminine
hand, couldn't help noticing, as did
all the other boarders, in our little
hotel, that the young man was pay
ing marked attentions to pretty
young girl, who had joined our party.
She had fascinated us all, this win
some Muriel FaIes, with her sweet face
and her charming manners, and l
couldn't wonder that Jack had not
been able to resist the spell;
but then, did not know his secret,
and were not all my sympathies with
the frail little creature for whom the
fir pillow was designed2 How could q
young man be so tickle? Was the old
proverb "Out OF sight out OF mind"
to prove true again in his case2 cor
Tess | was beginning to be disappoint-
ell in Jack
"I'll let you know il the fir pillow
really does her any good" he said to
me in light, flippant way that quite
vexed me as he babe us good-by few
days later. A telegram had come to
him from the distant city, and
although | knew we would miss the
bright young fellow, | was glad OF any
thing that would take him away from
beautiful Murie Fales. Not that |
had aught against her; on the con-
trary, | was charmed with her myself,
for she was no coquette, but noble
hearted young girl. Still, ! couldn't
help seeing that matters were begin
ming to take u serious turn with her
as well as with Jack, and | thought
it was high time that such scandalous
proceedings should come to an end.
Indeed, | had half mind to tell
Murel myself all about the mystic
rious pillow, only that | had promised
Jack eternal secrecy in regard to 1t.
Now, though | am an old maid and
supposed to have all an old maid spro.
clvities for meddling with other peo-
pies concerns, it is not often that
become so greatly interested in people
that meet in this random way at d
quiet summer resort.
But Muriel and Jack and the little
consumptive maiden had somehow
crept, each one Of them, into my fool
ish old heart, and felt strangely re-
sponsible for the future happiness oil
them all. Moreover, Muriel's mother
had placed her under my charge for
the remainder OF the summer-we were
to talk French together preparatory ia
her European trip in the fall-and
when the frank young girl, knowing
my interest in Jack, began to show
me the letters that came to her on his
return to the city, the burden weighed
upon me all the more heavily. Each
letter, as could see, grew more and
more lover-like, till Mt last Murie
ceased to show them to me, but would
read me short sentences here and there
with a charming, blushing hesitancy
that | could not tail to interpret.
One day, however, there came to me
as we'll rs to Muriel, a letter from Jack
and as it will explain to you the
whole situation, especially theromanc'
OF the pillow, far better than my gar
rulous talk could do, | am going tc
give it to you in full;
"My Dear Miss Hardaere; promis
ed to let you know il the fir pillow
you so kindly helped me make TO
my poor Angora pussy did her any
good. My mothers letters about he
quite worried me while was with yol
ut the mountains, for she is OF n rar
| breed, and Is n great pet with us all
| The doctors told us that her sickness
was n case of consumption, but sine
sleeping ON the fir pillow her cough ha
grown less frequent and her appetlt
is decidedly better. think she full.
appreciates the delicate strawberry
fragrance we took that long, pleasur
walk around the mountain to secure
| Ii she RECEIVERS, as now feel almos
sure she will, | hope to have tn
pleasure of presenting her to you
the kind benefactor to whose intinit
patience and forbearance she owes tn
pretty fir pillow upon which she
soundly sleeping at the present writ
ing.
One word more before close. Cor
graduate me, dear Miss Hardacre, VI
on having won for my own, the dear
est, sweetest little woman in all tn
wide world. Muriel will tell you n
about it.
Ecstatically yours,
JACK TURNER.
Taking Things for Grautel.